Timed Writing Prompts for Creative Writing & Writing Skills (Paper and Digital)

These writing prompts are perfect to add to any classroom. You can use them as a set of daily writing prompts, as a writing unit introduction, as a way to infuse fun writing activities into the classroom, or to build community and spark a love for writing. The best part is that they are designed to help students develop communication and writing skills.

Specifically, timed writing activities challenge students to race the clock as they write as much as they can during a fixed time period. Students are encouraged to “just write.” There is no pressure for perfection. In fact, the only parameter is that they need to write for the entire time. The fun nature of timed writing activities help students develop confidence as they experiment with the writing craft.

Great news! This resource is designed to be versatile. You can choose the format that works best for your classroom setting. It includes:

• Whole-page writing prompts
• Writing prompt cards (easy to add to writing notebooks)
• Google Slide writing prompts (perfect for remote learning)

About the timed writing prompts:

The exercises are fun and effective for a variety of reasons:

• Since students are encouraged to write without the pressure of perfection, they can be freer and more creative.
• The “quantity-over-quality” nature of the exercises allows students to take chances and view writing as fun and spontaneous.
• The exercises help “rev up” students’ creative engines.
• Many of the exercises celebrate and encourage critical elements of writing such as voice, sensory details, figurative language, and style.
• Responses may spark an idea for a traditional writing piece.
• Sharing responses with classmates builds a community of writers.

Ways to use them in the classroom:

• Warm-up or lesson closure: Start or end a lesson with a timed writing activity.
• Substitute teacher lesson: Simply leave the student worksheet and directions behind for a substitute teacher.
• Unit introduction: Have students complete a timed writing activity as an anticipatory set for a writing unit.
• Remote learning activity: Give the prompt over a conferencing platform like Zoom as students respond. Share via Google Slides.

This resource includes:

• Detailed teacher guide
• Ideas and suggestions for instruction
• 3 versions of the Timed Writing Activities:
• Full-page Timed Writing Activity sheets (15)
• Writing prompt cards (15 – 4 per page)
• Google Slides version for digital learning (15)

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Have you seen these FREE Creative Writing Videos?

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